Another woman with massive leg calls out for help

Fifth in the line of nine siblings from a poor family, 22-year-old Jesmine Akhter has been suffering from a massive swollen leg, a possible case of elephantiasis, for a long time.

Currently, she is lying on a bed of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she is hoping for relief after a previous similar case of Razia Begum was cured completely.

When Jesmine was 9-10 years old she suffered a phase of frequent fevers and from then the swelling of her right leg began, her mother Rafia Begum told The Daily Star.

Initially, doctors of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital controlled the condition with medicine. But the condition returned seven years ago, after her marriage, Rafia Begum says.

Her husband, a poor farmer, has distanced himself from her, and ultimately left her a year ago, as she was becoming useless in the daily chores of the household.

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Woman with 60kg leg at Dhaka medical

Her paternal family lives without a father, who passed away long ago, compelling the entire burden of the remaining household on to the shoulders of Jesmine’s mother – Rafia Begum.

Talking to The Daily Star, Jesmine pleaded out for support and hoped that, with the support of people, she might be able to walk again and contribute to the earning of the family.

Drawing example of Rezia Begum, a previous case of elephantiasis, Professor Abul Kalam, department head of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery at Dhaka Medical College, said that Jesmine is suffering from similar problems.

He hopes of setting a surgery date after doing some tests on her.